Travel to Canada with eTa and eCoPR

[sam_33845]

Hello everyone!
I just got my eCoPR, but didn’t receive a PR card yet. I have to go to Europe for couple weeks soon and there is no way I can wait for PR travel document.
Can I board a flight to Canada with my current eTA and enter Canada without PR card (with my passport and eTA) ?
I would appreciate your thoughts on this topic. Thank you.

 

[scylla]

Hello everyone!
I just got my eCoPR, but didn’t receive a PR card yet. I have to go to Europe for couple weeks soon and there is no way I can wait for PR travel document.
Can I board a flight to Canada with my current eTA and enter Canada without PR card (with my passport and eTA) ?
I would appreciate your thoughts on this topic. Thank you.

You should assume it won't be possible and that the eTA will show as canceled in the system since you are now a PR. You should assume you will need either your PR card or a PRTD to board a plane to Canada. The alternative is to fly to the US and re-enter Canada through a land border crossing.

 

[sam_33845]

You should assume it won't be possible and that the eTA will show as canceled in the system since you are now a PR. You should assume you will need either your PR card or a PRTD to board a plane to Canada. The alternative is to fly to the US and re-enter Canada through a land border crossing.

Thank you for quick reply. In the system my eTA is not canceled yet. I assume it will be once they issue an actual PR card. I believe that PR card will not be processed anytime soon. We are entering holidays season… Last time I traveled (back in 2019) at the departure they just asked to show the paper with eTA, no scanning, nothing like that. I was thinking, once I am at the border in Canada, there is no reason they don’t let me in. I have all documents clean, rent, job, marriage certificate and other supporting documents.

 

[sam_33845]

From what I read on official website, it seems that the problem may only occur at the flight boarding stage.

 

[scylla]

Thank you for quick reply. In the system my eTA is not canceled yet. I assume it will be once they issue an actual PR card. I believe that PR card will not be processed anytime soon. We are entering holidays season… Last time I traveled (back in 2019) at the departure they just asked to show the paper with eTA, no scanning, nothing like that. I was thinking, once I am at the border in Canada, there is no reason they don’t let me in. I have all documents clean, rent, job, marriage certificate and other supporting documents.

It's not the border that's the issue. It's the airline and getting on the plane to return to Canada. The airline is where you run the risk of being refused.

You can role the dice and hope your eTA is still valid. However cancelations of temporary visas like eTAs and TRVs is done after you have become a PR (which you are now), not once the PR card is issued.

Make sure you have a "plan b" in the event you are refused boarding.

 

[scylla]

From what I read on official website, it seems that the problem may only occur at the flight boarding stage.

Yes, that's right. There's a good chance the airline will refused boarding.

You just need to be prepared for that possibility.

 

[YVR123]

You can apply for PRTD once you have left Canada.

 

[sam_33845]

You can apply for PRTD once you have left Canada.

I am considering that. But processing time is more than I can afford waiting for it

 

[bramily]

I am considering that. But processing time is more than I can afford waiting for it

Hey - can you please tell us how it eventually went? Were you able to board your plane?
Thank you!

 

[scylla]

Hey - can you please tell us how it eventually went? Were you able to board your plane?
Thank you!

You really need to assume this won't be possible. eTAs and TRVs are generally canceled as soon as someone becomes a PR. On the rare occasion, we see this not happen immediately. But it always happens eventually. You can roll the dice and hope you are in the minority where this cancelation is delayed. However you'll be putting yourself at high risk of a refused boarding (you won't know where you stand until you are at the airport and are attempting to fly back to Canada).

 

[sam_33845]

Hey - can you please tell us how it eventually went? Were you able to board your plane?
Thank you!

Hi there,
Everything worked out.
We went to Niagara Falls, Rainbow bridge, and spoke to the border officer. He said - if you have a valid Work Permit and valid eTa- it is your primary documents to board a flight and enter Canada. We did as he said. No questions at the boarding, no questions on the passport control in Canada. Everything went smoothly. So if you have doubts I would recommend to go to the nearest border and kindly ask the officer. Good luck.

 

[sam_33845]

You really need to assume this won't be possible. eTAs and TRVs are generally canceled as soon as someone becomes a PR. On the rare occasion, we see this not happen immediately. But it always happens eventually. You can roll the dice and hope you are in the minority where this cancelation is delayed. However you'll be putting yourself at high risk of a refused boarding (you won't know where you stand until you are at the airport and are attempting to fly back to Canada).

My wife’s eTa was not canceled even though she was approved for PR and waited for her PR Card. Nobody checks eTa in the Airport, I think the only place where it’s checked is passport control in Canada. But they have no reason not to let you in if you have a work permit and approved pr

 

[Bigorangecat69]

Hi there,
Everything worked out.
We went to Niagara Falls, Rainbow bridge, and spoke to the border officer. He said - if you have a valid Work Permit and valid eTa- it is your primary documents to board a flight and enter Canada. We did as he said. No questions at the boarding, no questions on the passport control in Canada. Everything went smoothly. So if you have doubts I would recommend to go to the nearest border and kindly ask the officer. Good luck.

Hello, so if I have gotten my ECoPR but I haven’t received my card as yet, but my post graduate work permit is still valid would I be able to fly in? Or should I just go to the land border with ECoPR and Passport?

 

[scylla]

Hello, so if I have gotten my ECoPR but I haven’t received my card as yet, but my post graduate work permit is still valid would I be able to fly in? Or should I just go to the land border with ECoPR and Passport?

You need either a valid PRTD or PR card to fly into Canada.

PGWP doesn't allow travel.

 

[Bigorangecat69]

You need either a valid PRTD or PR card to fly into Canada.

PGWP doesn't allow travel.

Okay, so I will have to go to land border. Thankyou.